Process and apparatus for the manufacture of glass



C. HEUZE Oct. 22, I929.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS Filed June 18. 1928 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

C. HEUZE Oct. 22, 1929.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS Filed June 18. 1928 2Sheets-Sheet 2 ZZZ/5:21; Z 2::

A TTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 22, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES HEUZE, OIAUVELAIS, BELGIUM, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN IBICHEBOUI COMPANY, ACORPORATION OF DELAWARE PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OFGLASS Application filed June 18, 1988, Serial No. 286,395, and inBelgium March 8, 1928.

The invention relates to receivin glass sheets intermittently formed andthe d elivery of such sheets to a lehr.

It is known that the formation of the sheet I should be done at great orrelatively great speed compared to the speed at which the plate treatsin annealing. The latter is necessarily slow in order to avoid makingthe annealing aplparatus of great length and this invention re ates to aprocess and an apparatus which, in simple manner, permits of forming theplates or sheets at high speed and then annealing them while travelingat reduced speed.

For this purpose it comprises as the sheet is formed, in delivering itonto an inclined runway rovided with sheet carryin rollers so that t eforward movement of t e glass is eflected at first under the action ofgravity, and in modifying the inclination of this platform so that oncethe sheets or plates are completely delivered to the runway, they can beintroduced into an annealing apparatus at the speed at which they are tomove in this apparatus.

It also comprises in modifying or changing the inclination of the runwayso as to compensate for the acceleration due to gravit In certain cases,in order to reduce the rop in level of the end of the runway, itcomprises also in constructing this latter of a series of pivotedsections and of progresslvely decreasing inclination, the risingmovement of the sections being regulated so that they reach thehorizontal position together.

It also comprises in roviding means so that the horizontal position oncereached the sheet or late is carried along by the rollers, at annea ingspeed.

In addition to the process set forth, the invention comprises apparatussuitable for carrying out such process. In the following specification asuitable apparatus 13 descnbe in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawin which show various embodiments of the invention.

On said drawings:

Fig. fisa diagram in longitudinal section of an intermittent formingdevice, with an inclined tilting receiving runway located in front of alehr, in accordance with one embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1, the platform or chassisbeing shown raised in position for the introduction of the sheet intothe lehr.

Fig. 3 is a diagram similar to Fig. 1, the runway being formed of aplurality of pivoted sections.

Fig. 4 shows diagrammatically the details of the drive of the runwayrollers for moving the sheets at annealing speed.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, the intermittent forming machinehas the forming rollers 2 and 2, and a stationary apron 3, preferablyprovided with a roller 4, so that the sheet or plate of glass made bythe rollers 2 and 2' is delivered to the runway 5 which, at thebeginning of the forming o ration, occupies the inclined position as sdwn on Fig. 1.

This runway 5 is pivoted at 6 and comprises, near the end adjacent therolling machine, a table such as 8 for smoothin or surfacing the sheetor plate, and following that a series of rollers 9 positionedtherebehind and extending to the other end of the runway.

This platform has a suitable lifting system, diagrammatically shown at11, 11' and 11, adapted to carry the platform into the horizontalposition for the introduction of the sheet into the lehr 7, as shown onFig. 2.

Assumirig the runway in the position shown in ig. 1, a sheet of glass isformed by the rolls 2 and 2 at a relatively high speed.

The sheet slides down the apron 3 and over the table 8, onto the rollers9, which at this time are free to rotate, and advances on these rollersat rolling speed, chiefly through the action of gravity.

When the entire sheet is upon the runway the runway is raised by meansof the apparatus II, II, II to the horizontal position shown on Fig. 2,in which the rollers 9, which have been heretofore free to rotate, arerotated mechanically so that their ripheral velocity corresponds to thatof ro lers 7' of the lehr, for introducing the sheet or plate into saidap aratus.

If desire the lifting of the runway may commence during the formation ofthe sheet, runway 5 is removed from the horizontal and be at such a rateas to compensate for position and are driven peripherally at the theeffects of gravity, so that the tendency to speed of rollers 7' of thelehr when the platadvance is exactly at the speed of rolling at form orframe 5 occupies that position, by 5 all times and in all parts of thesheet being the shaft 26.

formed, and without subjecting the sheet to As is apparent, the cover 12may be extensions which might be the cause of distended laterally towardthe bottom by fixed tortion. or removable panels so as to regulate theIn order to prevent the sheet from cooling preannealing of the sheet asdesired. Also too suddenly as it advances on the rollers 9, it isevident that the platform 5 may be piva shield 10 may be provided underthe latter oted intermediate of its length so as to rock formed ofplates of asbestos, or heating eleor tip. ments whereby the radiation ofheat is more Having thus described my invention what or less reduced. Onthe other hand, in order I claim as new and desire to secure by Letthatannealing may begin as rapidly as posters Patent, is:

sible after the rolling there is provided, as a 1. The hereinbeforedescribed method of vestibule to the lehr and in advance thereof,forming and annealing glass sheets which a roof 12, supported in anysuitable manner, comprises forming the sheet at a relatively for exampleby columns such as 13, 14, below high speed, delivering it to aninclined runwhich the runway 5 comes into horizontal way, subsequentlyreducing the speed of position. movement of the sheet by decreasing thein- And in order that the proper i e of the clination of the runway anddelivering the rollers 9 may be assured, there is provided sheet fromthe runway into an annealing de- (Fig. 4) along the runway 5 8.longitudinally vice at such reduced speed.

movable shaft 1 which carries Worms 16 2. The hereinbefore describedmethod of adapted to enter into engagement with worm f i d annealingglass h t hi h gears 17 fast to rollers the necessary ng comprisesforming the sheet at a relatively tlldihal movement to ensure meshing 9these high speed, delivering it to an inclined runparts being causedwhen the runway is lifted Way it i th h t t move along th y roller 18mounted on the level a h runway under gravit and controlling its fi d03m 19 Whith moves the Shaft agalhst ll'lOVGnlQIlt by the inclination ofthe runway the teIlSiOIl Of p g and delivering the sheet from the runwayShaft 15 is y the hevel Plhlohs into an annealing device at a reducedspeed. the latter lhtegml Wlth a Shaft 92 3. The hereinbefore describedmethod of Carrying a cone clutch 23 adapted to Phgage forming andannealing glass sheets which 100 in the femfitle Cone 24 cohhected wlththe comprises forming the sheet at'a relatively train of Pihlohs 25 andset In rotatloh by t high speed, delivering it to an inclined run- Shaft26 driving the Toners of the ahhetthhg way having a surface of freelyrevolving rollpp 50 t as S001} the runway ers, reducing the speed ofmovement ofthe sumes the honzohtat PQ an the rohers sheet after suchdelivery by reducing the in- 105 9 and the rners.7, are slmultaneouslydnven clination of the runway and then positively at the Same Penpherals yrotating the rollers to deliver the sheet to an AS may be Seen from tthe runway annealing device at a reduced rate of s eed. 5 is of somelength, the drop in level at its 4. In an apparatus for forming an end hconsldtmble whlch causes dltfi' nealing glass sheets the combinationwith an 110 cultles in msthnatlon on one h an intermittent formingmachine, of a tiltable increase of dnve h tqgravlty (whlch may runwaylocated adjacent to the forming mabe thecause of distortion of thesheet) on chine and adapted to receive Sheets there the Otherfrom wheninclined, a lehr, and means for 0 In Order to obvlate thls the.runway 5may varying the inclination of the runway and 5 he made of P h ofsection? 27228 placing it in a substantially horizontal posi- 29, eachof successively decreasing inclination in alignment with the lehr tion,as shown on Fig. 3, each SeC1t10Il2b811'ig In an apparatus for formingand am rthsed by a System Such as H H as nealing glass sheets thecombination with an 5 Flgures 1 and or by systems 92 intermittentforming machine, of a runway 120 and 33, to assume the horizontalposition sihaving a surface formed by rollers and multaheohh? cated toreceive a sheet of glass when inclined,

The sections of the runway of this construca lehr means for causing therunway to tiOIl each Carry a dnve Shfttt 34, 35 and 36 sume asubstantially horizontal position in 00 for the rollers9 of suchsections, connected by f t f the l h d means f t ti t 125 universal jocouplings as Shown, such time the rollers of the runway to dethe shaftbeing controlled and driven as beli th h t f om the run ay i to th foredescribed. lehr at a reduced sneed.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the 6. In an apparatus forforming and anrollers 9 are substantially free as soon as the nealingglass sheets the combination with an 130 intermittent forming machine ofa tiltable runway located adjacent to the forming machine and adapted toreceive sheets therefrom when inclined, a portion of the surface ofwhich is formed by a plate and a portion by a series of rollers, a lehr,means for causing the runway to assume a substantially horizontalposition in front of the lehr and means for rotating at such time therollers of the runway to deliver the sheets from the runway into thelehr at a reduced speed.

7. In an apparatus for forming. and annealing glass sheets thecombination with an intermittent forming machine, of a runway consistingof a series of pivoted sections pivoted to move in a vertical plane andlocated to receive glass from the forming machine when inclined, a lehr,means for causing the runway to assume a substantially horizontalposition in front of the lehr and means for rotating at such time therollers 0f the runway to deliver the sheets from the runway into thelehr at a reduced speed.

8. In an apparatus for forming and annealing glass sheets, thecombination with a rolling machine, of a tiltable runway and having aseries of rollers to receive a sheet while the runway is in an inclinedposition, means to raise this runway to a horizontal position oppositethe entrance of'a lehr, a lehr having driving rolls therein, means fordriving the rollers of the runway at the peripheral speed of that of therollers of the lehr.

CHARLES HEUZE.

